Thanks - I finally took a look at this and it is obvious that this would be an extremely interesting mission. A 'Galileo 2' (with the omission of Io though) in a way but with modern and far better instruments (and antenna!). I also get the impression that it would very nicely complement a possible NASA Europa mission since that mission now seems likely to focus almost exclusively on Europa while JUICE is more of a Jupiter System mission - it even includes nice coverage of Jupiter's polar region.

This is great news. Detailed information is available and from what I've read this mission is vastly superior to Galileo (even if its HGA had worked), thanks to modern instruments etc. (a difference of at least 30 years). In a way this is Jupiter's 'Cassini' - not as big but with more modern instruments.

I have another informations about L missions.JUICE was recommended by SSAC and SSEWG groups, ATHENA by AWG group and NGO by PSWG group. JUICE is preferred choice, but it isn't still 100% certain. Final (formal) decision by ESA members is expected on 2 May.

Fantastic news! I've very impressed by the high data rate (1.4Gbit/day) and the ability to operate 11 instruments on solar power at 5AU. Also glad to see that they are not at all relying on NASA or JAXA support for the mission, although I hope those agencies can support the mission in some way.

I was split between JUICE and LISA, but LISA or NGO or whatever it is called now would have been my favorite choice, for the Nobel prize science it would produce and for the technological challenges it implied, but still I'm quite happy with JUICE!

Obviously, I think everybody here would have preferred it if ALL the missions were commissioned!

But if it is JUICE that's been picked, it sounds tremendous. Something to look forward to in a few years. Plus it will be good to finally get global coverage of Europa instead of the pinpricks of data that came from Galileo. Reading the Atlas of the Galilean Satellites is a rewarding but frustrating experience - like hearing a few seconds of Beethoven's Ninth or seeing a couple of square feet of Guernica...

No global Europa coverage from JUICE, except at low resolution- there are only two Europa flybys, both at similar longitudes. Still, with high data rates and an ice penetrating radar, these should provide a spectacular improvement in our understanding.

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